How to Get More Flexible Hotel Check-in/out Times

Checking in and out of a hotel on your own schedule can be a valuable perk that’s available for top-tier elite hotel loyalty program members, but paying extra can also sometimes help advance your request for flexibility.

Here’s our list of hotels that offer some flexibility in their check-in and checkout times, along with how you can get it.

Marriott

Marriott Bonvoy offers their top-tier loyalty members one of the top perks for guests who want flexibility around their check-in and checkout times: Marriott members who achieve Ambassador Elite status can choose the 24 hours of their hotel stay.

So if your flight arrives at 3 a.m., you can check in to your hotel in the early morning hours and stay for a full 24 hours before having to depart.

The great thing about the Marriott Bonvoy program’s Ambassador Elite status is that there is no fee for the “Your24” program. The only problem with the flexible offer is it’s not easy to gain Ambassador Elite status, unless you are a travel warrior who spends more than a quarter of the year in hotel rooms.

Qualifying for Marriott Ambassador Elite status requires at least 100 nights per year in hotel rooms among Marriott’s various hotel brands and a minimum spend on hotel rooms of $20,000 a year.

Mere mortals among us who have Marriott Platinum or Titanium status don’t get a flexible check-in time but will get a guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout at most Marriott properties. Gold members can request a 2 p.m. checkout, though it isn’t guaranteed.

To achieve Gold status, members must have 25 qualifying nights in a given year, while Platinum requires 50 nights and Titanium is 75.

No matter who you are, late checkout is not available at Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club and participating Vistana Signature Experiences properties. In addition, it’s based on availability at Marriott resort and convention properties and Marriott Design hotels.

Even silver Bonvoy members, who only have to spend 10 nights at Marriott hotels to obtain their status level, can receive late checkout at most Marriott properties — but it is not guaranteed.

» Learn more: Complete guide to the Marriott rewards program

Hilton

Hilton also offers late checkout for loyalty members, though it’s subject to availability and not guaranteed. Also, Hilton doesn’t specify exactly how late your late checkout can be.

Unlike Marriott, Hilton does not require members of its loyalty program to achieve elite status to obtain the late checkout. All members of its program are eligible — depending on availability, of course.

» Learn more: Find the best hotel credit card for you

Hyatt

The Hyatt hotel chain offers late checkout at participating locations for its Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist members (2 p.m. for Discoverist and Explorist, and 4 p.m. for Globalist). Hyatt members must spend 10 nights to qualify for Discoverist, 30 nights for Explorist, and 60 nights for Globalist.

This late checkout is guaranteed, except at Hyatt hotels with a casino and Hyatt resorts. At those properties, late checkout is subject to availability. Also note that Hyatt’s late checkout is not offered at Hyatt Residence Club resorts and M life Rewards destinations.

» Learn more: Complete guide to the World of Hyatt program

IHG & InterContinental

The InterContinental hotel chain offers a variety of programs for flexible check-in and checkout. Guests who pay the $200 yearly fee to become an Ambassador member receive a guaranteed checkout as late as 4 p.m. the next day. Members who are invited to the Royal Ambassador level can check in as early as 10 a.m., giving them the ability to extend a one-night stay as long as 30 hours.

It’s important to note that this Ambassador late checkout offer is available only at InterContinental Hotel and Resorts, not other properties under the IHG chain’s umbrella such as Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn.

Still, InterContinental has many properties throughout the world, including locations in New York, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Dublin, Paris, Beijing, Hong Kong and Moscow.

IHG also has a no-fee program that offers late checkout for guests who are members of its IHG Rewards Club. Late checkout is for Gold, Platinum and Spire Elite members, though it’s subject to availability with no guarantee of a specific checkout time.

This program applies to all IHG brands. To achieve Gold status, you’ll need to stay 10 nights in a year, while Platinum status will require 40 and Spire Elite will require 75.

» Learn more: Your guide to IHG Rewards Club

The Standard

At the much smaller Standard hotel chain, you won’t need elite status to participate in its “Standard Time” program — but there are extra fees for flexible check-ins and checkouts.

This program allows guests to pick their own check-in and checkout time at 5 U.S. hotels in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. As the chain advertises on its website: “Come in early. Stay up late. Sleep in. Take off whenever. Do your thing.”

From our review of the Standard’s website, it seems the extended check-in and checkout program is not always available. When it is offered, the rate differential could depend on the particular night that you want to book a room.

To check the difference between the flexible check-in and checkout Standard Time rate and view other hotel rates, just visit the Standard hotel website and click “Book now” to choose a property. On the booking page, enter “standardtime” into the Corporate/Promotion Code box, or leave the code out to see regular rates and compare.

So what should you expect to pay for this privilege? At the Standard’s location on the Lower East Side of New York, we found November rates averaging around $100 per night more for the flexibility of checking in and out when you want.